Kukla's Korner Hockey

As has been the case for 11 months, ever since it became clear the Vancouver Canucks intended to hand the No. 1 goaltending job to Cory Schneider, it’s clear all roads for Luongo’s exodus out of British Columbia logically lead to Toronto.

Which is probably why talks between the Canucks and Maple Leafs quietly resumed this week after weeks of silence between the two teams.

That doesn’t mean a deal is at hand, although it’s believed Vancouver GM Mike Gillis is no longer demanding the likes of Nazem Kadri or Jake Gardiner in a proposed trade. Gillis has a troubling hole to fill at centre and Tyler Bozak remains a comfortable fit.

Complicating matters, however, or perhaps giving the Leafs leverage they didn’t have before, is that GM Dave Nonis has viable options other than the veteran Vancouver netminder that he didn’t have before.

A great deal has changed, in other words, since the teams first discussed a possible Luongo swap last June.